Apparatus for issuing checks



(No Model.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 1. J. S. REEHILL.

A-PPARATUS POR ISSUING CHECKS.

No. 443,333. 'Patented Dec. 23,1390.

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(No Model.) '2 sheets-sheet A2. vJ'. S. REEHILL.

l APPARATUS POR ISSUING CHECKS.

No. 443,333. Patented Deo. 23, 1890.

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UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. REEHILL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR ISSUING CHECKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,333, dated December 23, 1890.

.Application filed April 24:, 1890 Serial No. 349,364. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. REEHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City,in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Check Apparatus for Ferries or other Public Entrances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide novel, simple, and efficient means for preventing peculations and showing the business transacted at public entrances where either uniform or miscellaneous rates of admission are charged and where cash'and tickets are accepted, as at ferries and halls, ball, fair, and race grounds, and similar places.

The apparatus constituting the subjectmattei' of the invention is more particularly designed for river and ferry-boat landings or wharves, where considerable animal, vehicle, and other traffic demands a variety of schedule rates, and the chief purpose is to aord immediate detection in case of peculations and convenient and rapid showing of the business transacted.

To accomplish the foregoing objects or purposes of my invention involves the features of construction, the combination or arrangement of devices, and the principles of operation hereinafter described in detail, and specitically set forth in the claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a broken'front elevation showing one end portion of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line g1g/,Fig 2. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of one of the checkv cages or holders. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the check-carriers which moves vertically in and is guided by the.

to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein The numeral 1 indicates the base-frame of a casin g 2, having a lower panel 3, which can slide vertically in guideways 4, and is balanced by cables 5, passing over pulleys 6 and secured to balance-weights 7, similar to the manner of hanging an ordinary window-sash, except that I prefer to construct the weight as a hollow receptacle or vessel to receive shot. The upper portion of the casing is provided with a table-top S, and the back panel 9 rises considerably above the table-top and is secured at t-he top to a head-piece 10. The table-top is provided with a series of orifices 12, and in line therewith on the base-frame of the casing is a series of collars 13, having flanges 14 for lthe passage of screws to fasten them in position. The check cages or holders are of skeleton form, and each comprises three perpendicular bars or rods 15, secured at their upper ends by a ring 16 and at their lower ends by a similar ring 17, adapted to enter and seat in one of the collars 13,-while the uppermost ring 16 seats in one of the orifices 12 in the table-top. The cages are all alike and are detachablysecured in position to be removed and replaced at will by the collector or gateman.

, The cages orholders may be fastened in place by any suitable means; but for rapidity 4and convenience of attachment and detachment I prefer to employ a bayonet-fastening consisting of a lateral pin 1S on the cage-ring 17, adapted to enter and engage the edges of the horizontal portion of a right-angled slot 19, formed in the collar 13, whereby the lower end ofthe cage can be seated in the collar, and then by partially turning the cage causing the pin to enter the horizontal portion of the slot. The check cages or holders are removed and replaced laterally when the lower panel 3 is elevated to permit free access tot-he interior of the casing.

In rear of the back panel 9 is arranged a series of upright tubes 20, each having at the top a ring or ledge 21, supporting a disk 22, which carries a pair of hangers 23, in the ends of which is journaled a sheave or pulley 24: for a cable 25, which passes through a suitable orifice in the back panel and hangsin IOO the tube. The cable is preferably composed of a chain, and the end within the tube is attached to the upper end of a coiled or other suitable spring 2G, having its lower end counected by a hook and eye 27 to a disk or plug 2S in the lower end ot a short-tube section 29, adapted to slide up and down in the main tube 20. The tube-section 2f) carries a footpiece or lifter-arm 30, extending at right angles therefrom and adapted to pass under a cheek carrier or platform 31, fitted between the bars or rods of the check-cage and in sliding engagement therewith in such manner that the cheek-carrier, under the retractile force ofthe spring 2G, is raised in the checkeage until the upper surface ot' such carrier is tlush with the surface of the table-top S. It will be obvious that to permit the proper vertical movements of the foot-piece or lifterarin 30 the tube 520, panel 9, collar 13, and ring 17 must be provided with vertical slots for the passage of the foot-piece or lifter-arm. The check-carrier is preferably in the form of a cup-shaped cylinder or crown-piece having notches 32 in its external surface to receive the bars or rods comprising' the checkeage, whereby the carrier can freely rise and fall in sliding engagement with the bars o1' rods. The base of the carrier is adapted to rest on the upper edge of the ring 17 when the carrier is in its normal or lowest position, and the upper edge of the carrier strikes the lower edge of the ring 1G when the carrier is in its highest position, at which time the car rier will project through the ring 1G and the upper surface of its crown will be Hush with the table-top.

To the tace of the back panel are secured a series of vertieally-arranged guides 33, on cach of which moves a slide-block 3i, connected with the outerend et the cable E25 and carrying a lever-handle 35, having lugs 3G to engage notches 37 in the guides, so that by adjusting the slide-blocks vertically on the guides and engaging the lever-handle with the notches the tension ot the spring 2G can be varied or changed to exert more or less upward pressure on the foot-pieee orlifterar1n. The purpose o1 the slide-block and its leverhandle is also to move the cable and lower the spring and foot-piece or lifterarm at-ter the cheeks are exhausted in a check cage or holder, as will be made clear hereinafter.

A plate or bar 38,01? wood or metahis secured horizontally to the back panel adjacent to the rear edge of the table-top, and to this plate or bar is secured a series of brackets 15E), which at their outer ends overhang the orifices in the table-top and carry check-retainers composed of rotating wheels i0, which are so relatively arranged as to permit the removal of a single check only at one time. lhe ehecleretaining wheels are each made adjustable vertically to suit the thickness of the checks used in the check cages or holders, and to provide for the required adjustment each wheel is journaled to the lower end of a supporting screw-stein 1l, which engages nuts 12 and t3, arranged, respectively, above and below the bracket, so that by adjusting the nuts in a manner quite obvious the wheel is raised or lowered and its position relative to the table-top varied as occasion demands. '.lhe brackets are provided with naine-plates l1 to bear names or characters signiticant of the rate represented by the cheeks in the check-cages. 1t will be i'inderstood that a re` taining-wheel, guide, slide-block, cable, spring, tube-section, and foot-piece or lifterarm are provided for each check-cage, and that the parts co-operating with one checkcage are entirely independent or separate from the similar parts which co-operate with another check-cage. The apparatus is de signed for location at the gate or other entrance-for example, at a ferry-and the checlecages are supplied with the desired quantity of checks, those in one cage representing one rate and those in the next cage another rate, and so on throughout the series. The checks are preferably circular, as in 1 `ig.8, and each bears the required significant mark or indication of the rate represented thereby. For instance, the check t5 may indicate cash, the cheek 4G a singlehorse vehicle, the check 47 a two-horse vehicle, the check 1S a single-horse loaded truck, and se on, according to whatever the conditions require. The springs and tubesections are iirst lowered by releasing the lever-handles 35 and raising the slide-blocks .it to permit the foot-pieces or lifter-arms passing down into the collars 13, as in Fig. 2. rlhc cheeks are superimposed in the checkcages, and the lowermost check bears upon the crown of the cheek-carriers, which rest on the lower rings 17 ot' the cages, and the latter are then introduced by the gateman into the apparatus, so that the lower rings 17 stand. within the collars 123, and their pins 1S engage the horizontal portions of the right-angled slots 19, while the upper rings 1G tit into the orifices 12 in the table-top flush therewith. The springs 2G are new placed under tension by drawing down the slide-blocks 3i and engaging their lever-handles with the proper notches of the guides 33, thereby causing the foot-pieces of litter-arms to rise and press the columns et' cheeks upward until the uppermost cheeks bear against the check retainers or wheels 4:0, when the upper checks will be in correct position to be removed by the gateman as occasion demands. These checks are of no value and are not acceptable as fares, but are simply given out by the gateman as a receipt for what he has collected from the patron, driver, or shipper. These checks must be presented to the cheek-taker or other authorized person in charge as a permit for right of passage or transit for that trip onl y.

The traflic at ferries consists largely of animals, teams, and vehicles of every description which cannot pass the passenger-en- ILC ITO

trance, and each and all are paid by cash or tickets. If paid in cash, a check with a plain indication of the amount is delivered by the gateman to the person'who pays, while if a fare is paid by a ticket the person so paying receives a check indicating such payment, thereby holding the parties under control and :requiring the ticket-taker to show every check that has been Withdrawn by the gateman, who must remit cash and tickets, together with unused checks, to balance his account. The gateman is supplied, originally, with his supply of checks, which are charged to his account, and at the end of his Watch or time of duty'he removes his check-cages and delivers at the treasurers office the unused checks with his cash and tickets, thus compelling a correct balance at the end of each watch or time of duty.

The apparatus provides simple and efficient means for delivering a check-receipt for each and every collection made at the time of the transaction to show at the end of each collectors Watch the business he has transacted and the amounts received in cash and tickets, thus avoiding peculation or collusion without early detection.

The check cages or holders are of skeleton form to permit convenient observation of their contents, and they are of sufficient depth to receive the desired quantity of checks.

In practice I purpose graduating the front bar or rod of each cage or holder to indicate the number of checks contained therein at any time. This is feasible if the checks are of uniform dimensions and Will avoid counting. The checks, however, can be weighted instead of measured to show quantity. The table-top is composed of a sheet of brass or other metal; but this material is not indispensable.

In connection with my improved apparatus I provide a check-receiver, Fig. 7, in which the check-taker deposits the checks received from thepersons passing to the boat or through the entrance to the hall, grounds, or other place. This receiver must be provided with means for safely locking it. The receiver is preferably composed of a box having a suitable lock for its opening and closing part and provided with slots 4:9 in its top for depositing the checks, from which they pass by conducting-tubes 50 to the bottom of the box. The check-receiver, however, may be of any desired construction, and for this reason I do not deem it necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

At river and ferry-boat landings or wharves the miscellaneous cash rates and vehicle, truck, and other tickets largely vary, and obviously'the number of check cages or holders and the mechanisms co-operating therewith will be increased as required.

I do not confine myself to any particular number of cages and lifting devices, as for certain purposes asingle cage and carrier lifting mechanism is useful.

To 'det-ach a check-cage the spring and lifterarm are lowered, as before explained, when the bayonet-fastening is released and the check-cage removed.

The construction of the base-frame and casing may be varied at will, and the detachable cages may be constructed otherwise than as shown without changing the character of my invention.

In erecting the apparatus I prefer to construct the table S in two longitudinal sections or halves and secure the rear section, as shown in Fig. 2, in a stationary position to the plate or bar 3S, while the front section should be capable of rising in any suitable manner with the front panel 3 to provide for conveniently removing and replacing the check-cages.

AIn practice I prefer to provide the lift-arm 30 with a cylindrical riser 30a to fit Within and bear against the inside of the crown of the check-carrier. This riser may be of rnbber or other material, and may be solid or hollow, as desired, and it serves to uniformly lift the carrier, whereby binding thereof in the cage is avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column of checks, of a foot-piece or lifter-arm projecting laterally into the cage or holder, and a spring located and supported outside the cage or holder and connected with the foot-piece or lifter-arm to elevate the same, substantially as described.

` 2. The combination, with a check cage or holder' and a rising and falling check-carrier therein, of a foot-piece or lifter-arm projecting laterally into the case or holder beneath the carrier, and a spring located and supported outside the cage or holder and connected with the foot-piece or lifter-arm, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a check cage or holder, of a foot-piece or lifter-arm to project into the cage or holder, and a lengthwise-contracting spring located and supported outside the cage-holder, connected to the foot-piece or lifter-arm, and by its lengthwise contraction operating to elevate the foot-piece or lifter-arm, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a check cage or holder, of a lifter-arm to project into the holder or cage, a spring located and supported outside the cage or holder and connected-'With the lifter-arm to elevate the same, and means for bodily lowering the spring and subseqnently stretching it lengthwise to place it under tension When the cage or holder is supplied with checks, substantially as described.

5. VThe combination, with a casing having a table-top provided with an orifice, of a collar at or near the base of the casing, a check cage or holder adapted to t said collar and to eX- tend into the orifice in the table-top, a lifterarm extending laterally into the cage or holder for raising the checks therein, and a spring located outside the cage orholder and acting TOO IIO

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by its lengthwise contraction to elevate the lifter-arm, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a table-top having au oriice and a collar located beneath and in alignment with the orifice, of a check cage or holder detachably connected with the collar and adapted to project into the orifice of the table-top, alifter-arm projectinglaterally into the cage or holder for raising the checks, and a spring the lengthwise contraction of which elevates the lifter-arm, substantially as dcscribed.

7. The combination, with a frame or casing having a table-top provided with an oriiicc and a collar arranged below the orifice. of a skeleton checlecage comprising vertical bars and end rings and detachably connected with the collar, a lifter-arm for raising the checks, and a spring for elevating the litter-arm, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a frame or casing having a tabletop provided with an orifice and a collar arranged beneath the orifice, of a check cage or holder adapted to lit said ori ce and having a pinand-slot connection with the collar,a lifter-arm for raising the cl1ecks,and a spring for elevating the lifter-arm, substantially as described.

fl. The combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column of checks and lifting mechanism for raising the checks, of a vertical1y-ad justable check-retainer against which the top of the check column abuts, substantially as described.

l0. The combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column of checks and lifting mechanism for raising the checks, of a rotating check retaining wheel against which the top ot' the check column abuts, substantially as described.

1l. The combination, with a check cage orA holder for containing a column of checks and lit'ting mechanism for raising the checks, of a rotating check-retaining wheel and a vertically-adj ustable support for suspending said wheel over the check column, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column ot' checks, of a lifter-arm for extending into the cage or holder under the checks, a spring connected with the lifter-arm, a cable suspending the spring, and means lfor moving the cable to lower the spring, and consequently place it under tension, substantially as described.

i3. lhc combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column of checks, ot a litter-arm, a vertical tube, a spring located in the tube and connected with the lifter-arm, and means for sustaining, lowering, and placing the spring under tension, substantially as described.

il. The combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column of checks, ot' a litter-arm, a vertical tube, a spring located in the tube and connected with the lifter-arm, a cable sustaining the spring, a cable-supporting sheave, and means for moving the cable to lower the spring and subsequently place it under tension, substantially as described.

l5. The combination, with a check cage or holder for containing a column of checks, ot' a lifter-arm, a spring connected with the lifterarin, a cable sustaining the spring, a cab1csupporting sheave, a slide-block attached to the cable, and a notched guide with which a part of the slide-block engages, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixcd my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JNO. REICIIILL.

Witnesses:

Tiioims BUnNs, THOMAS REEHILL. 

